Chemical leaching/thermal decomposing carbonate in carbonate PCD

A method for treating a polycrystalline diamond material comprising bonded crystals with a carbonate catalyst material in interstitial spaces between the crystals, the method comprising:

• subjecting said polycrystalline diamond material to a cycle, said cycle comprising subjecting the polycrystalline diamond material to a first process, said first process being a leaching process or a thermal decomposition process, said thermal decomposition process comprising subjecting said polycrystalline diamond material to a temperature of at least 400° C.;
• subsequently subjecting the polycrystalline diamond material to a second process, said second process being the other of the leaching process or the thermal decomposition process, said first and second processes resulting in removing a portion of a carbonate catalyst material from said polycrystalline diamond material extending from an outer surface of said polycrystalline diamond material to a first depth into said polycrystalline diamond material;
• and
• subjecting said polycrystalline diamond material to another of said cycle;
• removing another portion of the carbonate catalyst material;
• and
• subsequently subjecting said polycrystalline diamond material to one or more of said cycle as necessary until the carbonate catalyst material has been removed from the outer surface of said polycrystalline diamond material to a desired depth deeper than the first depth.